Waste compressor including ejector chute



United States Patent S T N m MA 3 6E cT A e T S e D E H N U m w s a s m d 1. A d n BP w n e v i n H 100/218X 100/232 100/272X 100/218 100/272X l00/218X 1 1 PP 809,285 685,565 10 1901 1 Filed Mmh211969 2,960,927 11/1960 Aichelen............ [45] Patented Nov.10, 1970 3,327,622 6/1967 Leb0v1tz........1.... [73] Asslgnee afractionalportionto Clyde R.Ashworth 3,358,590 12/1967 Howardm Arlington, Tex 3,454,174 7/1969 Nelson 3,481,268 12/1969 Priceetalu...

FOREIGN PATENTS 5 4 2 O O 1 me uh uh M 69 ty 6B 2 m Wu H m E v. ir 1a 1 3%. P

[54] 'WASTE COMPRESSOR INCLUDING EJECTOR CHUTE 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

Attorney-Herbert J. Brown 100/272 ABSTRACT: A combined trash compressor, accumulator and loader wherein a hydraulically o linked to gain a mechanical adva perated pressure plate is ntage as the required pres- 232, 21s, 245, 269, 2721188, 249, 229 sure increases in its extended position.

Patented Nov. 10, 1970 Sheet of 2 w 6R M v at BILLY a. HOWARD Q Q mm m. M. u m v H. N w ow Q m h\ V N R Q .2 mm 0 b 2 J J on .MM. 4:! w I O\ v m w if R WHIHHHIHJIIIIHIIIWM/I 40 MAM 1|- 1 E o l: 1 o v mm mm mm V E 7 1 WASTE COMPRESSOR INCLUDING EJECTOR CHUTE This invention relates to hydraulically operated compressors for trash, garbage and other waste that can be effectively compressed to reduce its volume before loading in a disposal truck.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus receiving hopper, a power press for reducing the volume of the waste in the hopper, storage space for the compressed waste continuous with the compressor and power operated means for unloading the stored waste periodically into a truck for ultimate disposal.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the described type in which the accumulated waste material can be completely closed off from the outer air during waiting periods.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in the described apparatus, a press with a high speed hydraulic cylinder providing the initial movement of the pressure plate combined with a second cylinder linked to the pressure plate in such a way as to give substantial mechanical advantage for the final stage of the compression.

A further object of the inventionis to provide, in apparatus of the described class, hydraulic means forcing the compressed waste into the adjoining storage bin while still under pressure, minimizing the roll back of the waste into the hopper when the pressure plate is retracted.

These and-other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus with portions shown in elevation.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section taken along line 2-2 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section taken along line 33 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an elevational detail of part of the ejection mechanism, and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section showing a portion of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a broken elevation of one side of the discharge end of the storage compartment and showing the door hinged thereto.

The apparatus herein described and illustrated consists primarily of a hopper 10, a compression chamber 11, an ejection duct 12 and a storage compartment 13. A hinged door 14 with arcuate sides 15 to form a chute in its open position is held closed by a latch 16. As shown in both FIGS. 1 and 6 the sides supporting the door 14 are hinged at 140 along the lower extending edge of the compartment 13. When extended, the chute directs the accumulated compressed trash into a truck, not shown, as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1. Extensions 1? on areuate edges of the chute sides 15 bear against a pair of laterally projecting lugs 18 on the top of the storage compartment 13 to keep the door 14 from dropping too far when it is opened. Adjustable legs 19 are attached to the sides 20 of the storage compartment 13 to hold it in the proper relation to the rest of the machine regardless of ground level.

A conveyor 21 running on sprockets 22 and 22a is supported at its sides by angle bars 23 comprising the lower framework of the sides 20 of the storage compartment 13. At intervals on the conveyor 21 there are cleats 24 which help in moving the compressed waste toward the door 14. A hinged flap 25 rides over the cleats 24 and prevents the waste from leaking out of the duct 12 where it joins the storage compartment 13. The conveyor is driven by a gear motor 26 and a chain 27 running on a sprocket (not shown) on the same shaft as the sprocket 22. Within the compression chamber 11 there is a vertical pressure plate 28 provided with a pair of wings 29 which act as reinforcements for the plate and also provides a base for rollers 30 which reduce friction during the motion of the plate. The pressure plate 28 is driven forward by a linkage 31 attached to a bulkhead 32 and a crossbar 33 between the wings 29 and is actuated by a vertical hydraulic cylinder 34. Because the mechanical advantage of the linkage 31 is near negative when the pressure plate 28 is retracted, an auxiliary cylinder 35.is provided to operate substantially in line with the motion of the pressure plate 28. This supplies the necessary force to start the pressure plate 28 on its compression cycle,

and continues in tandem with the cylinder 34. As the contents of the compression chamber are reduced in volume, the force required for further compression increases greatly. By this time, however, the mechanical advantage of the linkage 31 becomes positive, and in its extreme position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, the force exerted by the cylinder 34 is multiplied many times. A sliding lid 36 running in a groove 37 at the juncture of the hopper 10 and the compression chamber 11 is closed by a hydraulic cylinder 38 before the beginning of the compression cycle. A shear bar 39 across the top of the hopper 10 slices any material such as tin cans or boxes that might prevent the lid 36 from closing all the way. An ejector 40 forms a part of the floor of the compression chamber 11, filling the bottom of the area 41 in which the waste material is fully compressed. This ejector is actuated vertically by a hydraulic cylinder 42 and is stabilized by a slide 43 running on bars 44 to which are connected the piston rod 45 and push bars 46.

While the pressure plate 28 is in its extreme forward position as shown by the dotted lines, the ejector forces the compressed waste material into the duct 12 where it remains until the next load pushes it into the storage compartment 13. It should be understood that the ejector 40 and its operating mechanism can be arranged to force the compressed waste material out of the compression chamber either sideways or downward if the storage compartment is located in such a position as to receive the material from that direction.

In a modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 the linkage 31' connecting the hydraulic cylinder 34 to the pressure plate 28 is lengthened so that the pressure plate 28 can be driven further into the compression area 41 than is shown in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1. This allows the compaction of the waste material to an absolute minimum as shown by the dotted outline 28a. After compaction, the pres sure plate 28 is withdrawn to the position shown by dotted outline 28b and the compressed waste material is then forced into the duct 12 by the ejector 40.

A further modification shown in FIG. 5 includes a hydraulic cylinder 35' connecting the pressure plate 28 to the sliding lid 36 whereby the lid 36 can be moved ahead of the pressure plate 28 from the latters starting position, and then be allowed to remain in the closed position shown while the pressure plate advances into the compression area 41.

A further modification includes a shearing edge 48' at the top of the pressure plate 28 which engages the shear bar 49.

The sequence of the various operations involved can be controlled automatically or manually from a control panel (not shown) placed at a convenient location. Hydraulic power is provided by a motor 47 driving a pump 48 using hydraulic fluid from a reservoir, not shown.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shown and described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Ielaim:

1. A waste material handling machine comprising in combination a rectangular compression chamber including loading hopper, a laterally operated pressure plate movable along a part of the length of said chamber, means selectively reciprocating said plate, an ejector recessed in one wall of the compression chamber and of a size covering the portion of said chamber snot reached by the pressure plate, a storage compartment attached to the compression chamber opposite the ejector, a door on the extending end of the storage compartment, a conveyor within said storage compartment and means selectively moving said conveyor toward said door.

2. A waste material handling machine as defined in claim 1, and having a sliding plate positioned to close said hopper and Ill linkage that increases the mechanical advantage of the force applied as the plate approaches its extended position and including an auxiliary hydraulic cylinder applying force substantially in line with the motion ofsaid pressure plate. 

